Patent · US Expired

In-situ getter in process cavity of processing chamber

US6241477A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
5References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 25, 1999
Grant dateJun 5, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 25, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC23C14/564
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An apparatus for removing an undesirable gas in a processing chamber includes one or more getter materials disposed between a process gas inlet and a substrate support member in the processing chamber, and one or more temperature control elements disposed in thermal communication with the one or more getter materials. Preferably, a controller is connected to the one or more temperature control elements to regulate the temperature of the one or more getter materials, and a gas analyzer is disposed within the processing chamber to provide signals to the controller and indicate the presence of undesirable gases. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for removing a gas from a processing chamber comprising pumping the gas using a getter material disposed between a process gas inlet and a substrate support member in the processing chamber, wherein the getter material is activated by a temperature control element disposed in thermal communication with the getter material. Preferably, the method further comprises detecting a presence of the gas within the processing chamber and controlling the pumping of the getter material based on detection of the presence of the gas.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.